Allen Iverson Deserves To Start for Memphis

Last night Allen Iverson scored 18 points on 8-12 shooting and had seven assists in just 27 minutes. He was playing NBA basketball for only the second time in six months.

He outscored and outplayed Michael Conley and OJ Mayo. His stat line tells you something. For the first time in a long time Iverson got to shoot when he wanted to and got the ball much more than he did with Detroit.

Iverson was in a good rythym despite coming off the bench and playing only 27 minutes. He was everything that most people wanted him to be. But, as usual with Iverson, when he gives you what you want to see you pick out another error in his game and bash him for it.

Iverson sometimes scored 18 points in 35 minutes with Detroit simply because he did not get the shots and touches.

Last night in just 27 minutes he played well and proved all he needed was touches and the green light to play freely and he would be effective.

Iverson's jumper was falling all night long. If he was having that kind of shooting night in Philadelphia or Denver he would have scored 45 or 50 points last night easily because he would stay on the floor and keep getting the ball.

For anyone who saw the game you would think if Iverson got the ball every second possession he would drop 40. We could have seen a 30 point and 10 assist game from AI last night if he got the minutes and the ball from his teammates more.

But he is still a reserve.

Yes, people. Allen Iverson, one of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the five greatest scorers to ever play, is a reserve for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Lionel Hollins doesn't need to prove a point. When it is Coach versus Player the player always wins. Being stubborn and not starting AI is not going to make the Grizzlies a winner.

Iverson starting and playing a good 35 to 40 minutes is going to be the best thing for him and the Grizzies. This way the Grizzlies get a superstar who can dominate the game when they need someone to step up and Iverson stays in a rythym and proves to everyone that he is still one of the best players in the league.

Right now Michael Conley needs Iverson to play 35-40 minutes a night as well. People keep saying Conley will not get better and improve so he can lead this team in the future if Iverson that much.

With all respect to Conley he is just not good enough to lead a team right now. Iverson wants to win now and so do the Grizzlies—well at least that's what the they say.

Conley will want to work harder and will get tougher as a player with a little more time on the bench. If Conley can not accept that then I think the Grizzlies should just trade him for a guy who can back up Rudy Gay.

Right now when I see the Grizzlies play they have no chemistry. They seem like the five guys who don't know each other and needed a team at the YMCA so they joined together but lost all their games.

All I see are young guys jacking up shots whenever and trying to prove themselves. No balance whatsoever.

Iverson and Randolph played a good team game last night but everybody else just was out there for their own. It seems like they are strangers and do not know each other.

Iverson needs to start now or this thing is going to get out of hand. AI reached the 24,000 point milestone last night and tommorow the Grizzlies face the Lakers and Kobe Bryant most likely will pass Allen Iverson on the all-time points list.

Currently Kobe has 23,986 points while Iverson has 24,012. AI could have had 500-700 more points last season had he not been with Detroit or at least been used correctly. Now he's getting limited minutes and is going to watch Kobe get ahead of him on the all-time points list.

The Grizzlies could just start Iverson and this season he could reach the 25,000 point mark. With an opportunity he could even lead this young talented team to the playoffs while proving to everyone he can still ball with the best of them.